This year there is a focus on children and guest artists will encourage sculpture.

"All you need are two hands, materials and imagination," Blanden Art Museum Director Margaret Skove said. They won't need to know how to draw, she said.

Children will also create hanging ornaments, print- making art, and will have weaving projects. The guest artists helping the children include Jennifer Dutcher, Diane O'Hern, Pam Dennis and Diane Sinclair.

"The Blanden Arts Festival will celebrate imagination, innovation and inspiration with all the variety of artist and provide opportunities for families and the community to revisit the Blanden Art Museum," Skove said.

There will be several performances throughout the day ranging from magic to opera.

Michael Oz, an 18-year-old magician from Des Moines who has been performing across the Midwest for more than 10 years, will perform at 10:30 a.m.

Stage Door Productions, a musical theater group from Fort Dodge will perform at 11:30 a.m.

Robert Patton, of Gowrie, who has performed with Metropolitan Opera in New York City, will take the stage at 12:30 p.m.

Jive for Five, a brass quintet from Fort Dodge will conclude the performances, starting at 1:30 p.m.

"I'm excited for all of it," Skove said. "We have four groups of people who have all done an excellent job putting (the festival) together."

The Grace Lutheran Church youth group, ARiSE and the Fort Dodge Noon Lions Club will serve lunch throughout the day.

The festival is from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Blanden Art Museum grounds at 920 Third Ave. S. on Saturday.